A/N: I hope you like this chapter :)

"My name is Henry, I'm your son."

Before Killian was even able to recover from the news, the kid had moved fast and ducked underneath his arm in order to enter his apartment.

"Lad," Killian called, having to repeat himself several times at the unresponsive child who was looking around his apartment. Once he had the boy's attention, he carefully spoke, "Where are your parents?" The boy - Henry - didn't seem to acknowledge his question so Killian pressed the issue further. "I don't have a son."

Henry look at him directly. "Ten years ago, did you consent for your kid to be given for adoption by his mother?"

Killian's heart stopped for a second, a dreadful cold invading his body as Henry stared at him and tilted his head to the side. He felt himself transported to another place, another time, to a set of green eyes looking at him and tilting of a head in the same familiar way.

Henry seemed to have read the recognition in his face, because he gave Killian a soft, hopeful smile. "That was me," he said.

Killian shook his head, trying to get his bearings, feeling his throat constricting with emotion. "Give me a minute, lad," he asked as he retreated to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He pressed his forehead against the door, reigning in the emotions that were flooding him.

"Do you have any juice?" The voice coming from the other side of the door broke him out of the depth he'd dived in and he pulled himself back together before leaving the bathroom.

"We should get going," Henry said to him after he finished drinking Killian's juice.

"Going where?" Killian asked dumbfounded.

"I want you to come home with me," Henry said with hopeful tone, his eyes shining and Killian had to fight the wave of dizziness that came over him at how much of the kid's reactions reminded him of the lad's birth mother. But he soon regained his senses and reached for his phone.

"This is insane, lad. I'm calling the cops," he stated vehemently.

"I'll tell them you kidnapped me," Henry threatened with a smug smile on his face. "And since you're my biological father, they'll believe me."

Killian took a long look at him and smirked. "You're good, lad, I'll give you that," he acknowledged. "And I don't know much in life, but I do have one thing going for me. Let's call it a superpower. I can tell when people are lying." He pointed his finger at Henry. "And you, lad, are lying."

His thumb ghosted over the dial buttons but Henry's voice stopped him. "Wait! Don't call the cops. Please, just come home with me," he pleaded.

Killian lifted his eyes and looked at the ten-year-old boy standing on his apartment. The son he'd never expected to meet. Something seemed to awaken in him at the look in those hazel eyes.

He sighed, "Where's home?"

Henry grinned. "Storybrooke, Maine."

/-/

It was a long drive to Maine. Killian knew this and he fought the fatigue that was creeping into him as he sipped on his coffee. Henry was comfortably located in the passenger seat, his eyes wandering around looking at everything and talking very fast.

"Easy, lad. This is not a road trip," Killian said, almost at the breaking point of losing his sanity altogether.

"I have a name, you know? It's Henry," he replied, a hint of sadness in his voice as he reached to pull something out of his backpack.

Killian clenched his jaw, feeling regretful about not using Henry's name. He wasn't trying to hurt the kid's feelings, but he needed to maintain distance between him and the boy before his own mind started to picture scenarios he most surely couldn't - shouldn't - be imagining.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Henry was reading some type of book, a massive leather monstrosity that was almost as big as him.

"What do you have in there, la-Henry?" He asked curiously.

"The book," Henry said cryptically, his hand passing through the pages filled with black ink and drawings, "but you are not ready for this yet."

"Probably not," Killian acknowledged, but the night had already taken a turn for the unbelievable, so he figured a little more was not going to tip him off the edge. "But try me." He gave Henry a challenging smirk and he witnessed Henry's eyes lightening up. "What is so special about the stories you're reading?"

"They are not fictional stories, they are real." Henry stated vehemently, his voice getting agitated as he sensed Killian's disbelief. "I'm telling the truth, I know you can tell."

"Just because you believe in something, doesn't make it true," Killian pointed out, as he could tell Henry honestly believed in what he was saying.

"It's exactly what makes it true," Henry pointed out. "And you should believe in this more than anything."

"Why's that?" Killian asked curiously.

"You're in it." Henry beamed at him.

Killian shook his head. "Lad, you need help."

"Yeah, I need your help to fix all this," he proclaimed, his fingers grazing over the book.

/-/

He was wrong about the night not being able to be even more tiresome. He'd spent the majority of the car ride listening to Henry's incredible story about the town being cursed and everyone being a fairytale character, including his adoptive mother being the Evil Queen, something so far-fetched Killian couldn't even begin to comprehend. Things almost tipped him over the edge when upon arrival to the most quiet town he'd seen in his life -and he'd seen a lot of places- Henry had refused to give him his address. Then, the strange man that showed up while walking his dog and claiming to be Henry's shrink pointing out where he could locate the boy's house.

It turned out that his mother was the freaking Mayor of the town. As if he needed one more thing to bloody go wrong with his life at the moment. Killian was at the last thread of his sanity when he parked the car in front of the Mayor's house. Mansion would be the most accurate term. Killian and Henry hadn't even made it halfway through, Henry still arguing about her mother's evil status, when the front door opened and a brunette woman appeared. She was dressed impeccably and she'd screamed as she reached for Henry, tears in her eyes, asking desperately what happened.

Henry had blurted out the truth about Killian and stormed into the house and suddenly Killian found himself meeting shocking eyes and a disbelieving stare.

"You're Henry's biological father?" The woman asked and Killian did his best to offer a small nod and a respectful smile. He watched as the woman's eyes darkened for a second before she pulled herself together and gave him a tight smile, a polite invitation coming to her lips.

"Would you like a glass of the best apple cider you've ever tasted?".

Lady, I need something stronger than that.

/-/

The mayor had introduced herself as Regina Mills as she led him through the front door and into the house. Killian was now standing at the entrance of the impeccable living room, his eyes scanning the flawless place. He could feel that sense of old and sophisticated money that simply appeared to be effortless. He took a few hesitant steps as Regina poured a couple of drinks.

"How did he find me?" Killian asked, his shoulder leaning on the doorframe and his hands in the back pocket of his jeans.

"I have no idea," Regina explained. "I adopted him when he was three weeks old. It was a closed adoption. The records were sealed." Regina turned around and looked at him, "I have to ask… Is there a mother?"

Killian grabbed the glass that Regina handed him, swallowing slowly. "Well, clearly there was one," he said with a little sarcasm, stating the obvious.

"Do I need to worry about her?" Regina pressed.

"She seemed to have vanished from the earth," Killian said under his breath, as he reached to take a sip of the cider. Lord knew he'd tried over and over to find her. He'd made a living out of finding people for the last decade, yet she - the one he craved the most - he cannot find.

"Do I need to be worried about you?" Regina inquired but Killian's reply was interrupted by a tall, bearded man coming down the stairs, announcing that Henry was safe and sound in his bed.

Killian watched as Regina's smile softened and she thanked the man - the Sheriff - who gave one brief glance in Killian's way and nodded as he left the house.

"I'm sorry he dragged you out of your life," Regina continued as she led Killian into her studio. "I don't know what has gotten into him."

"He seems to be having a tough time," Killian offered politely as he took a seat, trying to fight the uncomfortable and suffocating feeling that was invading him.

"Ever since I became mayor, it's been hard to balance things." Regina walked around the room before she sat in front of him. "It's a job on top of another job, being a single mother." She gave him a small, conspiratorial smile, "I suppose I am strict, but I'm doing it for his own good. Does that make me evil?"

Killian shifted, reaching for the glass, "I'm sure it's just about the fairytale book."

"Fairytale book?" Regina asked intrigued.

"How he thinks everyone is a character from the stories in the book?" Killian offered as further explanation but he stopped when he saw the confused look in Regina's eyes.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."

Killian sighed, "You know, it's none of my business. He's your son. I should be getting back."

Regina quickly agreed, getting fast on her feet as if she were eager to dismiss him. Killian couldn't blame her; he didn't want to be there either.

He walked silently to his car, forcing himself to be strong, trying to shut down the voice in the back of his head that was telling him all of this was a sign.

At the end, he couldn't help himself as he turned his head up and his eyes focused on the second story window where he could make out the shadow of a small head.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he rushed into his car and drove off.

The rain had started to fall again and the sound of the water drops hitting the hood of the car was slowly luring him back into a sense of normality, helping him leave this night behind.

But a quick glance on the passenger seat brought him back quickly. There lay Henry's book.

Sneaky bastard.

He shook his head before his eyes focused back on the road and he saw the wolf right in front of him. His foot hit the brake and his hands desperately turned the wheel to avoid hitting the animal. He felt the car lose control and hit something before everything turned into darkness.

/-/

He woke up, disoriented, to the sounds of a whistle. Killian slowly moved to get up, careful with his impending headache as he took in his surroundings: he was lying on a cot, behind bars. It wasn't a novelty, but it hadn't happened in years. He groaned as he to tried to make sense of the words being spoken around him. There was some Italian accented old man complimenting him for being back in Henry's life and bickering with the occupant of the cell next to his, his words and expression sad as he shared how he'd wished to have a son and never could.

Killian didn't even know what to feel at this point. He was tired, uncomfortable and wanted nothing more than get out of this forsaken town, drown himself in a bottle of rum and a meaningless one-night stand and forget all of this ever happened in the first place.

The Sheriff walked in, commanding Leroy - that apparently was the name of the man in the next cell - to behave and smile. Leroy smiled snarkily at the Sheriff and exited the station.

Killian smirked himself, his voice catching the attention of the law-enforcer. "Seriously?" He asked as his face pressed against the bars.

The Sheriff gave him a sheepish smile. "It seems that Regina's drink might be stronger than what you thought?"

Killian reacted, offended by the hint hidden in the statement, "I wasn't drunk, mate. There's was a wolf on the road."

"A wolf?" The other man asked in disbelief, not buying Killian's version of the facts. He was about to add something when a soft cry interrupted them.

"Graham! Henry is gone again, we have to -" Regina stopped mid-sentence, her eyes focusing on Killian. "What's he doing here? Do you know where my son is?!"

"Madam Mayor, I haven't seen the lad since I delivered him to your doorstep last night and as you can witness, I have a very locked-down alibi as to where I've been all night." Killian informed her, trying very hard to hide his frustration at the entire ordeal. He wanted to leave all this behind, get in his car and drive back home, forget that his son was once again missing. Yet, he couldn't avoid the questions swimming in his head. What was happening with Henry? Why was the lad running again?

Regina turned to face Graham. "He wasn't in his room this morning."

"Have you check with his friends?" Killian asked.

"He doesn't have any friends." Regina replied, a slight hint of shame in her tone.

"Every kid has friends," he said, slightly confused by her statement. Even he, Killian Jones, outsider extraordinaire, had managed to forge a friendship or two at the lad's age. Keeping them had been the challenge: he'd lose them each time he had to move again, into a new foster home or a new group home. "Have you tried his computer?" He offered in a helpful tone. "He might be emailing them…"

"How do you know all of this?" Regina asked unimpressed.

"Finding people is what I do. And I'm quite good at it," he finished smugly. I've found them all but one. He tilted his head, an idea forming. "How about the good sheriff here lets me out, I'll help you track the lad and then I'll be on my merry way out of here?"

/-/

Henry wasn't daft. At all. He was quite a smart kid who covered his tracks and deleted his emails and cleared his browsing history. Killian tried to suppress the proud smile that was coming to his lips.

"Luckily, I have a few tricks up my sleeve," he said to Graham as he retrieved his pendrive and stuck it in the USB port. "I have a hard disk recovery program we can use."

"Interesting," Graham conceded. "I usually like pounding the pavement and asking questions."

"The good ol' fashioned way, uh?" Killian teased. "That works just fine when you're on a salary. I get paid by delivery. I simply don't have that luxury."

He focused on the information on the screen. A website advertising services to find biological parents, an expensive fee and his name right there on the birth certificate image.

"Does he have a credit card? He used one to pay for this…" he asked Regina, who denied it.

Killian pulled up the credit card receipt from the transaction and read the name out loud. "Mary Margaret Blanchard. Does the name ring a bell?"

Regina's eyes squinted in distaste. "Henry's teacher."

/-/

Henrys' teacher - a young woman with a pixie cut and a warm smile - all but flinched when Regina barged in and demanded information on Henry. Her eyes shifted to him and Killian felt a weird vibe passing through him.

"I'm sorry, you are?" She asked, a little dazzled as well.

"I - I'm -"

"Henry's biological father. The one who consented to the adoption." Regina's words interrupted him and Mary Margaret turned to search her wallet, her smile faltering when she found her credit card missing. Killian could tell she'd been blindsided by all this and he offered a supportive smile to her.

"I should've never given him that book…" she said softly

"What the hell is this book I keep hearing about?" Regina snapped.

Mary Margaret explained about giving Henry the book to keep him company, choosing her words carefully around Henry's problems to fit it, and how lonely he was. Killian felt as if someone was wringing his heart in his chest. All these years, as the guilt crept into him from time to time, he'd tried to convince himself that Emma had been right, that this had been the best decision to make, that their baby would be given a better chance. The chance he and Emma didn't have. That he'd be happy.

Killian was brought back to the present by Regina storming out of the classroom, a non-heartfelt wish for his safe return to Boston escaping her lips. He quickly bent to help Mary Margaret pick up the fallen books, the question leaving his lips before he could refrain himself.

"How was the book supposed to help?"

"There's truth in those stories, they help us cope with the world," Mary Margaret said, leaving the stack of books on one of the nearby tables before she headed to the door and Killian walked next to her. "Henry hasn't had the easiest of times-"

"Well, she seems very hard on him," Killian said nonchalantly.

"It's not just that," Mary Margaret said as they walked down the school hallway. "Like any adopted child, there's that question always nagging him… why would everyone give me away?" She seemed to realize what she said at the same moment the words struck Killian, and she quickly turned around.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean in any way to judge you or Henry's birth mother, I was just-" she spoke hastily and apologetically and Killian raised his hand to stop her.

"It's ok," he said with a small smile on his lips.

"Look, I gave Henry the book because I wanted him to have the most important thing anyone can have: Hope." Mary Margaret's eyes lightened.

Killian felt the knot on his throat, "I once had hope. It didn't last."

She tilted her head. "Believing even in the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing."

Killian sighed, reaching to scratch behind his ear pensively before realization dawned on him. "You know where he is, don't you?"

Mary Margaret gave him a small smile. "You might want to check his castle."

/-/

Killian looked up to the wooden house on the playground. It was slightly battered around the edges but it seemed it would hold his weight in addition to the brown haired ten-year old that was already sitting there. He held the book tightly under his arm as he climbed up the stairs.

"You forgot this in my car, lad," Killian said as he sat next to Henry and handled him the book. Henry took it, his fingers caressing the letters for a moment before his eyes focused on the horizon again.

Killian's eyes followed Henry's line of sight, noticing the clock on the tower. Henry had mentioned the night before that the clock didn't move because time was frozen in the town. He'd sounded so sure on his theory that the town was cursed.

"Still hasn't moved, aye?" Killian asked.

Henry sighed, a disheartened expression on his face. "I was hoping that now that I brought you back, it would start moving, that the final battle would begin-"

"I'm not fighting any battles, lad," Killian reminded him.

"But it's your destiny!" Henry contested. "You're here to bring back the happy endings!"

"You need to cut it with this book nonsense," Killian spat exasperated.

"You don't have to be harsh with me… I know you like me, Killian. I can tell." Henry tilted his head knowingly, an honest smile on his lips. "You're pushing me away because I make you feel guilty. It's ok."

Bloody Hell, the lad was good. Killian didn't remember anyone being able to read him like that - like an open book- ever since... He ran his hand through his hair.

Henry continued talking, his young voice soft and secure. "I know why she gave me away. I know why you consented to it. You wanted to give me my best chance."

Killian felt the weight at the pit of his stomach, the tears welling in his eyes and he had to avert his gaze from the kid that was sitting next to him, ripping his heart in two. He swallowed hard before he spoke again.

"How do you know that?" he asked in a strained voice.

"Because it's the same reason Snow White gave you away…."

Killian could feel his heart breaking at the conviction in Henry's words. The thought of the lad - his son - believing in such things when his real life had been anything but -

"I am not part of any book, lad!" Killian burst out, the emotion palpable in his voice. "I'm real, my life is real and whatever you might lead yourself to believe, I am no savior." He swallowed, his jaw clenching as he fought to pronounce his next words. "But I - we - did want what was best for you. And it's time I take you back to your mother."

He jumped the short distance to the ground and started walking towards his car. Henry quickly followed, pleading with him. "Please don't take me back there. Just stay for one week, it's all I ask!"

"Your mother-" Killian started but Henry cut him off.

"You don't know what it's like… my life sucks!"

Killian felt his patience running out. "Sucks? Sucks is being left at the side of the freeway- my parents didn't even bother to leave me in a hospital!" His voice raised, unable to keep the pain away from it, the tears visible in his eyes. "I ended up in the foster system and the Joneses adopted me. They were a wonderful family, they- they loved me and I even had a big brother to protect me from bullies and life was great. And then they died in a car accident when I was eight and I was back into the system, bouncing from one place to another."

Killian saw Henry flinch at the harshness in his words and he tried to reign in his feelings. "Look, lad, your mom might not be perfect, but she's trying. It might not seem like she loves you but Henry, she wants you."

"Your parents didn't leave you… that is where you came through." Henry said, speaking hastily to convey his thoughts before Killian cut him off again. "The magical wardrobe they put you through just brought you there… your parents were trying to save you from the curse," he finished in a small voice.

There was something in the way he emphasized the words -trying to prove that he was not crazy- that tugged at Killian's heart. But he pushed those thoughts aside and smiled sadly. "Come on Henry." He motioned to the child with his hand.

The drive back to the house was silent most of the time, until Henry broke it, his small voice daring to ask a final question. "Can you tell me one thing? What was she like? My mom."

Killian let his mind drift to her, as he hadn't in years. To her laugh, her green eyes and blond hair. The way she could read his mood instantly and always knew what to do to make it better. How she felt pressed against him, hopes for a better life whispered into the quietness of the night.

"She was everything, Henry." Killian's voice was hoarse as he spoke the words.

Regina met them at the door and Henry made quick way into the house.

"Thank you. He seems to have taken quite a shine to you," she said briefly.

Killian shuffled his feet, his gaze averting to the floor. "Aye… I never thought-" he trailed off for a second before he lifted his head and looked at Regina. "When we gave him up - when I signed the papers- I wasn't - I couldn't…" he hesitated briefly before a small, hopeful smile came to his lips. "But seeing him now…"

Whatever words he was formulating, they were cut off by Regina's raised hand and stern tone. "Make no mistakes, Mr. Jones: that wasn't an invitation to be part of his life." She raised an eyebrow at him. "While you were gone, doing God knows what… I raised him. From every single sleepless night to every tantrum and every milestone. He's my son. You have no legal right to Henry. You best get in your car and leave town, because if not, I will destroy you even if it is the last thing I do," she finished threateningly.

Killian's possible retort had died on his lips at the fierceness in her tone - he couldn't quite blame her. She didn't know him, she didn't know the circumstances that led Henry to be put up for adoption and she had no obligation to give him anything. He quickly nodded, and watched her turn around and enter the house, before he asked his final question.

"Do you love him?"

Regina looked at him for a second. "Of course I love him," she said offended. "Goodbye, Mr. Jones," she enunciated with an air of royal decision.

The door slammed shut and he retreated his steps towards his yellow bug, not being able to shake that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Killian sat in his car, pondering his thoughts. He couldn't say for certain whether Regina was lying or not… but something seemed off. And he knew he had no right, that he should just drive away.

But Henry… the lad was all he had left of Emma, besides the battered yellow bug he'd been able to track after he got out of jail and all the memories that haunted him each sleepless night. He'd never set out to find his son, he intended to respect the boundaries of a closed adoption.

But Henry had found him.

He'd never been able to find Emma in a decade spent looking for her but his son was able to find him. He had to stay, even if just for a week- he needed to ensure Henry was ok.

He was all he had left from Emma. He had to stay.

He swiftly made his way back into town and stopped in the tattered Granny's Bed and Breakfast, securing a room for the week under the shock and scrutiny of the local folks - including a shady character under the name of Mr. Gold that had been quite intrigued by his name.

Just one week. Killian told himself.

Somewhere on the outside, the clock started ticking.